Candace Watson – Welcome Post

I hope that everyone starting their school year with enthusiasm and a zeal for learning!  I am Candace Watson the Region Collegiate Representative for Region-D.   I am in charge of Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama sections this year and wanted to let go over some of the goals that I have for this year.  When I ran for this position in the spring at the regional conference, improving communication was my top goal, and is what I will be working on this year.  I believe if there are open lines of communication and a point of contact for collegiate leaders, these leaders can quickly ask questions and receive answers, allowing them to spend more time on what is important, growing SWE membership, exposing more people to SWE and educating the engineering profession why it is important to have a Society of Women Engineers!  Another goal that I have for the year is to advertise some great achievements that each collegiate section has accomplished.  I hope that this will give ideas to those sections that are struggling to get back on their feet and will encourage and give more stabilized sections new ideas to keep the fire going in their sections.  I feel that we have started off to a great beginning this year, and after reading the first submittal of collegiate reports, I believe that this is going to be a great year for SWE!  As a region, we should work together to expand SWE and educate others why it is important to have a Society of Women Engineers!  Please let me know if there is anything that I can do to assist your section with.  Look forward to meeting you at the Annual Meeting in Long Beach, California this October!    

Contact Information:

Email:  cjwatson@uab.edu

Phone:  734.634.5775

RCR Progress: Martha Addison

Hello Divas!

I hope your semester is off to a great start! My time as an RCR is winding down as I just turned in the second RCR report. Thanks to all sections who submitted their report. It really makes me excited and proud to see each section’s hard work and great ideas. (don’t forget to submit a blog about your best practice!) I wanted to let you know of a few things that I included in the report I sent that goes to the governor and the RCR coordinator.

As far as issues went I spoke of the problem with hotels at conference, Celebrate SWE rules, and getting people to actually become national members.

For best practices, I mentioned the great fundraising ideas, great membership social ideas, and the excellent outreach events. I would give more specifics but then what would YOU have to blog about?

Also remember if your section has not submitted an annual and financial report for the year, no rebate checks for you. This is money that national SWE gives you based on the number of members you have!

I have enjoyed working with each of you so far this year. Please let me know how I can help your section be the best section ever! Remember to apply for RCR, RCNE and Senator positions.

Have a SWEet Week,

Martha Addison

Leadership Position: RCR vs. Senator

by Martha Addison

Many of you know my position is now going to be TWO separate positions. Hopefully this blog will help explain the differences and the traits each require. Please feel free to call your RCR if you have any questions!

Both
Organization
Responsible

RCR
Deals mostly with sections-making sure they are thriving
Runs regional meeting
Part of Regional collegiate team
Represents Collegiate voice on regional issues
Attends national training session
Application Due: Feb 13, 2009
App Link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=KudLJdBnHJZqRvoPNdE9YQ_3d_3d

Senator
Votes on national strategic issues
Interfaces with professionals and collegiates across the nation
Represent the collegiate voice on National Issues
Travel to two meetings (National Conference and one in Spring)
Application Due: Feb 1, 2009
App Link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ruI5l2KZvNoVlmN5Sur3GQ_3d_3d

Call for RCRs and RCNE

The call is official! Region D is now looking for it’s next Regional Collegiate Representatives (we need two) and for it’s next Regional Collegiate Newsletter Editor! More details follow in a copy of the e-blast you, as a Diva, should have recieved from Pamela Snyder and Jennifer Vallero, RCR-RCNE Coordinator and Coordinator Elect, respectively.

(I’ve edited the e-blast to include information relevant to our Region.)

Call for Applicants!

Are you interested in taking your SWE leadership to the next level?  Do you want to make a difference in programs for collegiate members?  If so, this is your opportunity to apply! You could be your region’s next Region Collegiate Representative (RCR) or Region Collegiate Newsletter Editor (RCNE).

The RCR is responsible for representing collegiate members’ interests among regional leaders.  The RCNE is responsible for communicating important SWE events and best practices primarily through the region’s blog.  Plus, the RCR(s) and RCNE from each region will get to attend next summer’s Collegiate Leadership Forum in Chicago, IL!

Both positions provide invaluable interaction and coaching from SWE leaders.  These leadership opportunities sharpen your career skill-set in the areas of leading and facilitation, group dynamics and communication, and project leadership. Please click on this link to get started on your RCR or RCNE application.

When you apply you will need:

• Member number
• Section/Region
• School and Permanent Address
• Position of interest
• SWE leadership positions
• Other leadership positions
• What you bring to the RCR or RCNE position
• What SWE means to you
• Interest outside of SWE
• Reference to confirm GPA/academic standing

Applications are due by Friday, February 13^th.

Like FY09, in FY10 there will be 1 RCR for every 1,000 collegiate members in the region up to 2.  Below is a summary of each Region’s membership as of November 30^th.  Regions with a collegiate membership of 1,000 members by Dec 31^st 2008 will host 2 RCRs.

Region D: 1,226 members (2 RCRs)

Note the application for becoming Collegiate Senator was provided in a separate eBlast.  There will be opportunities to learn more about the differences between Collegiate Senator, RCR, and RCNE in the coming weeks.

More information about the election process can be found in the SWE Community “Collegiate Leadership Opportunity Community“. If you have any questions regarding the RCR/RCNE positions or the election process, please contact your Region Leadership:

Position	Region D
RCR	rcr-d@swe.org
RCNE	rcne-d@swe.org
Region Governor	Karen Ramsey-Idem

or Pam Snyder, FY09 RCR-RCNE Coordinator

Thank you,

Pam Snyder, FY09 RCR/RCNE Coordinator
Jennifer Vallero, FY09 RCR/RCNE Coordinator-Elect

Diva Diamond Awards

Collegiate Sections! Have you heard about the Diva Diamond?

The Diva Diamond Award is to encourage sections to be active and promote SWE values. Each section will receive points for various activities such as submitting reports and writing blogs. To be a diva diamond a section must have at least 75% of the total available points. Below is a table that shows point values for different activities. In order to qualify the section must submit an annual and financial report.

Activity	Points
Blog Submission	5
RCR Report Submission	10
Regional Committees	10
National Committee	15
Bylaws Submission	15
Conference Call	5
Regional Award Submit	15
One or Two Membership Goal (per month)	1
All Membership Goals Met (per month)	2

–Martha Addison, RCR-D, FY09

Section Reports Due!

Section Presidents! Do not forget that your Quarterly Section Reports are due to Johnnie and Martha on January 10. That is exactly one week from today. You can download the form here. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your RCR. As a reminder, you will be reporting to Martha if you are in Florida, North Carolina or South Carolina; you will report to Johnnie if you are in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee or Puerto Rico. Their contact information is under the Contacts Page.